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Abstract by the authors: The quest for safe energy in the EU has increasingly led to a policy of zero nuclear power and a shift towards renewable sources. The phasing out of nuclear power is being carefully undertaken, so as not create negative externalities, even though not all countries are ready to make this move, and despite the valuable role nuclear energy can play in backing up intermittent renewables. This paper examines the transition towards carbon-free electrification through the interactions between the various electricity sources, using the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices and carbon dioxide emissions in countries with nuclear power generation in the European Union and Switzerland. Monthly data, from January 2014 to December 2018 was analysed by means of an Autoregressive Distributed Lag model using the Driscoll and Kraay estimator with fixed effects. This approach allowed the electricity generation processes of the selected countries to be analysed, as well as the long- and short-run impacts. Our findings suggest that nuclear energy can be effective in accommodating renewable electricity into these systems, whereas using fossil generation to back up renewable sources leads to higher prices for consumers.
Abstract by the authors: Over the last decades, the world has become increasingly mindful of the potential impact of human activities on the environment and many governments have recognised the need to better assess the potential impacts of such activities prior to their authorisation. Legal requirements to perform environmental impact assessments (EIA) for activities likely to have environmental effects have been enacted under national, European and international law and have gained the status of international customary law.1 Due to the nature of the risks posed by the civilian use of nuclear energy on human health and the environment, it has become a requirement in most – if not all – countries that an EIA be performed prior to authorising the construction and operation of any nuclear installation, including nuclear power reactors.
Abstract by the authors: Climate change has become one of the critical matters of European Union (EU) Law. Hence, the EU Member States are about to transform their respective energy supplies from mainly fossil fuels to climate-neutral sources. This transformation process requires time, as the security of energy supply must be ensured (see Article 194(1)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union). An approach favoured mainly by France and argued by several parties across Europe is to rely heavily on nuclear power and to invest in (new) nuclear reactors until 2050. Against this background, the question arises whether the EU Member States can support the transformation process by granting State aid for nuclear power plants despite the commonly known risks. Since the European Commission’s recently published Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy 2022 exclude nuclear energy from its scope, a broader review of the European Treaties, including the Euratom Treaty, as well as secondary and tertiary instruments, must be conducted to answer this question. Considering that nuclear energy has, following the Joint Research Centre’s risk assessment, recently been included in the Taxonomy Regulation for a transitionary period, granting State aid for nuclear reactors is likely to be still compatible with EU law upon the European Commission’s discretion, but not for long.
Abstract by the authors: Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) is now a pertinent energy-related matter since most of the nuclear reactors built during nuclear renaissance will soon reach the end of their operational life. Drawing on the theoretical framework based on elements of the Value-Belief-Norm theory, psychometric paradigm, deliberative theories of democracy and in the levels of participation as defined by Arnstein's ladder, this is the first large-scale study addressing the question of who is willing to participate in decommissioning-related decision-making procedures. Data for this study were collected via a large public opinion survey (N = 1028) in Belgium in 2015, and were analyzed using Structural Equations Modelling (SEM) as a method. Results show that interest on the topic of decommissioning as well as radiological risk perception have direct effects on participation intention. Furthermore, we found that low trust in the nuclear industry, being ideologically leftist, having more negative attitudes towards nuclear energy, and living in the vicinity of a nuclear installation influences participation intention indirectly, through interest and risk perception. Based on these findings we point out to some challenges that can appear in decision-making processes and some recommendations on how to prevent or solve them.
Abstract by the authors: To achieve the goal of deep decarbonization of the electricity system, more and more variable renewable energy (VRE) is being adopted. However, there is no consensus among researchers on whether the goal can be accomplished without large cost escalation if nuclear power is excluded in the future electricity system. In Sweden, where nuclear power generated 41% of the annual electricity supply in 2014, the official goal is 100% renewable electricity production by 2040. Therefore, we investigate the cost of a future low-carbon electricity system without nuclear power for Sweden. We model the European electricity system with a focus on Sweden and run a techno-economic cost optimization model for capacity investment and dispatch of generation, transmission, storage and demand-response, under a CO2 emission constraint of 10 g/kWh. Our results show that there are no, or only minor, cost benefits to reinvest in nuclear power plants in Sweden once the old ones are decommissioned. This holds for a large range of assumptions on technology costs and possibilities for investment in additional transmission capacity. We contrast our results with the recent study that claims severe cost penalties for not allowing nuclear power in Sweden and discuss the implications of methodology choice.
Abstract by the authors: Finland has recently adopted a high profile in climate change mitigation. Finland has declared a national target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2035. As a part of this, the use of coal for energy purposes has been banned from year 2029 onwards. The Finnish electricity system is already very low-carbon, and more wind and nuclear power is being constructed. However, District heating (DH) is a backbone of the Finnish energy system, and it is still quite reliant on fossil fuels and domestic high-emission fuel peat, their share being 51% of DH fuels in 2018. This paper models the impacts of this transition on the electricity markets and DH systems and develops scenarios with a large-scale transition to wind and nuclear power and heat pumps in DH systems. The study finds that large-scale introduction of heat pumps would be profitable in cities Helsinki, Espoo, Turku and Vantaa, especially with the planned decrease of electricity tax. The study indicates that the impacts on Winter time capacity adequacy could be managed, but this requires considerable increases in nuclear and wind capacity.
Abstract by the authors: Invoquée tantôt comme un modèle à suivre, soulignant le niveau des énergies renouvelables dans le pays (40,3 % du mix électrique en 2018), tantôt comme un contre-modèle à éviter, condamnant le rôle toujours prépondérant du charbon (39 %), l’Allemagne est omniprésente dans les débats sur la politique énergétique française depuis l’accident de Fukushima en mars 2011 et la décision prise par la chancelière Angela Merkel de fermer huit réacteurs nucléaires immédiatement et d’échelonner l’arrêt des neuf derniers d’ici à 2022. Ce choix ne représentait pourtant pas une rupture dans la politique allemande. Dès 2000, le premier gouvernement de coalition entre le Parti social-démocrate (SPD) et les Verts (Die Grünen) interdisait la construction de nouveaux réacteurs outre-Rhin et négociait des quotas maximums de production avec leur exploitant, actant leur fermeture en 2025. Le retour au pouvoir en 2009 de la coalition entre l’Union chrétienne-démocrate (CDU), l’Union chrétienne-sociale (CSU) et le Parti libéral-démocrate (FDP) conduite par Angela Merkel ne remit pas en cause cet accord. Seuls les quotas de production furent augmentés de treize années, une décision annulée en 2011.
Abstract by the author: Flexibility of a conventional power plant fleet is becoming an increasingly valuable quality in several electricity markets due to growing solar and wind power supply. Nuclear power plants are not very flexible in terms of output, but their advantage is their low variable cost of generating electricity. Using a short-term techno-economic model which incorporates both the electricity and the balancing market, we examine quantitatively whether costs incurred by nuclear units' lower flexibility outweigh the low generation costs of nuclear power in the German power market, and investigate how this depends on the amount of fluctuating renewables. We show that, due to low negative prices stemming from inflexible baseload plants, balancing costs may increase rapidly with solar and wind power. Higher balancing and start-up costs arising from nuclear units in the fleet are still largely compensated by the nuclear units’ lower generation costs, and it is not cost-efficient to decommission nuclear units in the near future. The results suggest that it would be economically beneficial to harness the full flexibility potential of nuclear plants and curtail excess solar and wind power or include those in the negative balancing reserve.
Abstract by the authors: On a l’habitude de considérer en France que les applications civiles et militaires de l’énergie nucléaire font un tout, symboles indissociables de l’expertise technologique et de la recherche nationale dans ce domaine. Les raisons en sont à la fois historiques et structurelles, car l’organisme phare de ce développement est le CEA pour les deux types d’applications. Or ce lien n’est pas une fatalité et la logique qui sous-tend le développement et l’usage du nucléaire militaire est quasiment en contradiction avec celle du nucléaire civil. Il reste à interroger la responsabilité des scientifiques comme celle des citoyens pour comprendre le soutien réel, toujours d’actualité, à la dissuasion nucléaire.
Abstract by the authors: This paper focuses on the causal determinants of the accumulation of nuclear weapons, also known as vertical nuclear proliferation, in China, France, India, Pakistan, Russia, UK, and the US. It empirically analyzes the causal relationships between the civilian uses of nuclear energy, military expenditures, trade openness, and the stockpiling of nuclear warheads. Results from the Toda and Yamamoto (1995) version of the Granger non-causality test suggest a causal relationship in five of the seven states. A potential nuclear power lock-in into their energy systems induced by vertical proliferation aspirations is also plausible for some of the states. We suggest that military nuclear relationships affect energy system developments and impede a nuclear phase-out in the seven states. Emphasizing the mutually beneficial relationship between a state’s nuclear warhead stockpiles and its civil nuclear capabilities helps to explain nuclear incumbency and the future use of nuclear power in nuclear armed states. We also discuss the implications from our results for sociotechnical transition theories which usually neglect the role of military nuclear related factors in describing energy system trajectories.
Abstract by the authors: This article presents an analysis of the future role of nuclear energy in Poland's path to a low-carbon energy transition. The arguments in favor of implementing nuclear power are to be found on three levels: energy security, economic competitiveness and energy efficiency, and lastly, limited environmental impact. In the process of creating this study, the methodology in the field of security sciences was used, including its interdisciplinary approach. Theoretical methods were used, e.g., critical analysis of scientific sources and comparison of statistical data and empirical methods, e.g., document analysis, comparative analysis. The article is based on an analysis of the literature on the subject, applicable legal acts, and government strategies in the field of energy security. The article contains the results of research no. BS.21.6.13 carried out by a research team from the Pomeranian Academy in Słupsk that allowed to indicate the probable directions of transformation of the energy sector in Poland in the next decade.
Abstract by the author: The article analyses Lithuanian foreign policy in respect of the Ostrovets NPP from December 2008 till 2019. The aim of the article is to examine the goals of the Lithuanian foreign policy, its measures and outcomes. The analysis of official documents and high-level meetings was used to achieve this aim. The documents helped to reveal the strategic and economic features of the Ostrovets NPP, the official Lithuania's position and its change. Meanwhile, the study of high-level meetings helped to determine the direction of Lithuanian foreign policy, its objectives, ways to justify them and means of their implementation. The study revealed that Lithuania opposed the construction of the Ostrovets NPP throughout the entire period under analysis, but initially it did that indirectly, emphasizing the issue of nuclear safety, and since mid-2016, the indirect resistance has gradually turned into a direct one - this nuclear power plant was considered a Russian geopolitical project. Although Lithuania's interests with regard to the Ostrovets NPP have not been consistently represented at the highest political level during the period being analyzed, the country's foreign policy can still be considered sufficiently effective. Lithuania successfully raised the issue of nuclear safety internationally, which eventually made Belarus to partially comply with Lithuania's requirements for the admission of international experts. When it comes to constraining the supply of Belarusian electricity, Lithuania was able to agree on a favorable scenario for the synchronization of electricity systems of the Baltic States through Poland, securing Warsaw's support. Nevertheless, attempts to constrain the supply of Belarusian electricity till the synchronization can only be effective if Lithuania succeeds in reaching agreements with Latvia and Estonia.
Abstract by the authors: The feasibility and consequences of replacing nuclear power plants (NPP) in the Czech Republic with other energy sources are discussed. The NPP produced about one-third of electricity in the Czech Republic in 2017. Renewable energy sources such as hydropower, wind and solar power plants and biomass/biogas burning power plants produced about 11% of electricity in 2017. Due to the geographical and other constraints (intermittency, land footprint, and public acceptance), the renewables do not have the potential to entirely replace the capacity of the NPP. The only feasible technologies that could replace NPP in the Czech Republic in the near future are the power plants using fossil fuels. The combined cycle power plants running on natural gas (NGCC) are technically and environmentally feasible alternative for NPP at the moment. However, the natural gas imports would increase by two-thirds and the total greenhouse gas emissions would go up by about 10% if the power production of the NPP was entirely replaced by NGCC in the Czech Republic.
Abstract by the authors: The article focuses on the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels for energy consumption has led to international measures that bear an impact on European Union (EU) energy policy, such as agendas targeting sustainability. It mentions the negative environmental effects of wind power generation derive from land use or offshore space. It also mentions that nuclear energy stands as a source of electricity production due to its very low amount of greenhouse gas emissions.
Abstract by the authors: The European Roadmap towards the production of electricity from nuclear fusion foresees the potential availability of nuclear fusion power plants (NFPPs) in the second half of this century. The possible penetration of that technology, typically addressed by using the global energy system EUROFusion TIMES Model (ETM), will depend, among other aspects, on its costs compared to those of the other available technologies for electricity production, and on the future electricity demand. This paper focuses on the ongoing electrification process of the transport sector, with special attention devoted to road transport. A survey on the present and forthcoming technologies, as foreseen by several manufacturers and other models, and an international vehicle database are taken into account to develop the new road transport module, then implemented and harmonized inside ETM. Following three different storylines, the computed results are presented in terms of the evolution of the road transport demand in the next decades, fleet composition and CO 2 emissions. The ETM results are in line with many other studies. On one hand, they highlight, for the European road transport energy consumption pattern, the need for dramatic changes in the transport market, if the most ambitious environmental goals are to be pursued. On the other hand, the results also show that NFPP adoption on a commercial scale could be justified within the current projection of the investment costs, if the
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